Land Off Bradfords Lane Newent Gloucestershire Archaeological Evaluation

Land off Bradfords Lane Newent Gloucestershire Archaeological Evaluation

for WYG Environment

on behalf of Kodiak Ltd

CA Project: 6560 CA Report: 18168

March 2018 Land off Bradfords Lane Newent Gloucestershire

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: 6560 CA Report: 18168

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved by revision A 20/03/2018 D Sausins C Bateman C Bateman

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION...... 3

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND...... 3

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES...... 5

4. METHODOLOGY...... 5

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-4)...... 6

6. THE FINDS ...... 6

8. DISCUSSION...... 7

9. CA PROJECT TEAM...... 8

10. REFERENCES...... 8

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 9 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS...... 10 APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 11

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan showing archaeological features and geophysical survey results (1:750) Fig. 3 Trench 4: section (1:20) and photograph Fig. 4 Photographs

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Land off Bradfords Lane Location: Newent, Gloucestershire NGR: 371442 225976 Type: Evaluation Date: 14-16 March 2018 Planning Reference: Forest of Dean District Council ref: P1564/17/OUT Location of Archive: To be deposited with Museum of Gloucester Site Code: BRLN 18

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in March 2018 on land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire. Six trenches were excavated.

Colluvium, formed within a natural coombe, was recorded in the north-east of site from which heavily abraded medieval and post-medieval pottery as well as ceramic building material was recovered. An undated feature, most probably a pit or ditch terminal, was identified in the north of site sealed by subsoil.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In March 2018 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for WYG Environmental, on behalf of Kodiak Ltd, on land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire (centred at NGR: 371442 225976; Fig. 1). The evaluation was undertaken to accompany a planning application submitted to Forest of Dean District Council (FODDC; Planning Reference P1564/17/OUT) for residential development at the site. It was recommended by Charles Parry, Archaeologist, Gloucestershire County Council; archaeological advisor to FODDC.

1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by WYG Environment (2018) and with a subsequent Project Design (PD) produced by CA (2018). Both documents were approved by Charles Parry. The fieldwork also followed Standard and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014). It was monitored by Charles Parry, including a site visit on 15 March 2018.

The site 1.3 The proposed development site is located on the eastern boundaries of Newent, Gloucestershire. It comprises a single pasture field totalling 2.7 hectares. It is bound to the east and north-east by Bradfords Lane, to the north by B4221 Ross Road, and to the west and south-west by the driveway to Mantley Chase. The site elevation ranges between 45m above Ordnance Datum (aOD) towards the northern edge of the proposed development to 50m aOD at its southern extent.

1.4 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Helsby Sandstone Formation - Mudstone. Sedimentary Bedrock from the Triassic Period (BGS 2018). No superficial drift geology is recorded within the proposed development area (ibid.). Silts, clay and mudstone was identified in each of the trenches.

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 The archaeological and historical background of the site has been assessed in an Archaeological Appraisal (WYG 2017a) that has been supplemented by a Heritage Statement (WYG 2017b), the latter dealing exclusively with the built heritage

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

resource. In addition, the site has been subject to a geophysical survey (Sumo 2017). The following is a summary these investigations.

2.2 The Assessment noted that the site does not contain any designated ‘heritage assets’, such as scheduled monuments, listed buildings, or registered historic parks and gardens. In addition, it also noted the absence of Early prehistoric assets within and adjacent to the current site, excepting stray finds including a potential Mesolithic microlith from Wyatt’s Farm and a sickle blade discovered at Conigree Court, immediately south-west of the proposed development (WYG 2017a).

2.3 A Neolithic axehead was also found in the grounds of Conigree Court as has one from Oxenhall, to the north of the site. Fieldwork from fields to the south of Newent Community School also note a number of Neolithic flints, including an arrowhead (ibid.).

2.4 Identified Bronze Age activity in the area is limited to a palstave axe discovered to the north of Newent. There is one asset that may possibly date to the Iron Age within the immediate area. It has been proposed that Newent Court may represent the exiguous traces of an Iron Age hillfort, although it may be a misidentification of post-medieval earthworks related to quarrying activity and the construction of the Hereford and Gloucester canal (ibid.).

2.5 There is currently only limited evidence for Romano-British activity close to the current site. Romano-British pottery was identified in a ditch during the course of an archaeological evaluation at the south end of Newent. An early 4th-century coin has also been reported from Bury Bar, again at the south end of Newent. In addition, more 3rd and 4th-century coins have been found during metal-detecting in the fields south of Newent Community School (ibid.).

2.6 Newent, is first recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book, although it is presumed that the current site was located its agricultural hinterland. Post-medieval pottery was recovered during evaluation works near the current site, on the north side of Ross Road. Alongside this, numerous post medieval metalwork fittings, tokens and other artefacts have been recovered from fields in the course of metal-detecting to the south of the proposed development site.

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The objectives of the evaluation were to provide information about the archaeological resource within the site, including its presence/absence, character, extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and quality, in accordance Standard and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014). This information will enable FODDC to identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset, consider the impact of the proposed development upon it, and to avoid or minimise conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the development proposal, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (DCLG 2012).

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of six trenches, each measuring 50m in length, 1.9m in width and representing a 2% sample of the site, in the locations shown on the attached plan (Fig. 2). Part of Trench 2 remained unexcavated due to a buried telecoms cable. The trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co- ordinates using Leica GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 4 Survey Manual.

4.2 All trenches were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual.

4.3 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites. No deposits were identified that required sampling. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with Technical Manual 3 Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation.

4.4 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with Museum of Gloucester along with the site archive. A summary of

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

information from this project, set out within Appendix C, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-4)

5.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts and finds are to be found in Appendices A and B respectively. No archaeological features were identified in Trenches 1, 2 and 3.

5.2 The natural geological substrate, consisting of mixed silts, clays and mudstone, was identified at a typical depth of 0.4m below present ground level (bpgl). Within Trench 6 and the north-eastern extent of Trench 5, the natural substrate was sealed by sandy-silt colluvium, typically measuring 0.3m in thickness, from which heavily abraded medieval and post-medieval pottery and ceramic building material (CBM) was recovered. It was sealed by sandy-silt subsoil measuring approximately 0.2m thick in turn, overlain by topsoil measuring approximately 0.3m thick. Evidence for rooting was identified in Trench 5.

5.3 Within Trench 4 the natural substrate was cut by pit/ditch terminus 403 (Fig. 3; Section AA) which was partially exposed in plan with steep sides and rounded base. It measured at least 0.37m in length, 0.6m in width, 0.37m in depth and contained silty sandy fill 404 which remained undated. It was sealed by subsoil that was in turn overlain by topsoil.

6. THE FINDS

6.1 Artefactual material was hand-recovered from four deposits (topsoil, subsoil and colluvium). The recovered material dates to the medieval and post-medieval/modern periods. Pottery fabric codes (in Appendix B and in parenthesis in the text) are equated to the Gloucester pottery type series (Vince 1983).

Pottery: medieval 6.2 A total of four sherds (15g) was recovered from colluvium deposits 502 and 602. All present in sandy coarseware fabrics of uncertain origin. That from deposit 502 is a rimsherd from a jar with an internally thickened rim. Dating in the 12th to 14th centuries is most likely for the medieval pottery.

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Post-medieval 6.3 A heavily abraded base sherd from a glazed earthenware (TF50) vessel, dateable to the mid 16th to 18th centuries, was also retrieved from colluvium deposit 602.

Ceramic building material 6.4 A total of six fragments (427g) of ceramic building material of post-medieval date was recorded. Included were fragments of nib tile and flat roof tile.

Other finds 6.5 Topsoil deposit 500 produced a fragmentary iron strip (22g), of uncertain date, which retained two rivets.

7. DISCUSSION

7.1 Pit/ditch terminus 403 was the only archaeological feature encountered during the evaluation but remained artefactually undated. This feature does not correlate with anomalies identified during the geophysical survey (SUMO 2017) and the lack of datable material makes its interpretation difficult. It was sealed by subsoil which may suggest a medieval or earlier date for the feature.

7.2 The colluvial deposit(s) identified Trenches 5 and 6, from which heavily abraded medieval and post-medieval pottery as well as CBM was recovered, is associated with a natural coombe aligned broadly north-west/south-east. Trench 6 was located at the base of the coombe with the eastern extent of Trench 5 being situated upon its upper, south-western limit. The colluvium represents natural silting in the medieval and/or post-medieval periods.

7.3 The geophysical survey identified three separate linear trends aligned north- east/south-west that were targeted by Trenches 1, 2 3 and 6. No evidence was identified in any of these trenches for the anomalies and it is assumed that they are superficial agricultural features contained within the topsoil and/or subsoil. A north- west/south-east geophysical trend targeted by Trenches 2 and 4 proved to be a modern, shallow telecoms cable.

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

8. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Daniel Sausins, assisted by Gary Baddeley. The report was written by Daniel Sausins. The finds report was written by Jacky Sommerville. The illustrations were prepared by Charlotte Patman. The archive has been compiled by Daniel Sausins, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.

9. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2018 Geology of Britain Viewer http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html Accessed 28 February 2018

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2018 Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Project Design for an Archaeological Evaluation

Heighway, C. 1983 The East and North Gates of Gloucester and associated sites: Excavations 1974–81. Excavation Monograph No. 4.

SUMO 2017 Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Geophysical Survey Report. Report No. 12065

Vince, A. G. 1983 ‘The Medieval Pottery’. In Heighway, C. 1983, 125–31

WYG (White, Young, Green Environment) 2017a Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent: Archaeological Appraisal.

WYG 2017b Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent: Built Heritage Statement

WYG 2018 Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent: Written Scheme of Investigation for Archaeological Evaluation Excavations

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L (m) W (m) D (m) Spot-date No. No. interpretation 1 100 Layer Topsoil Mid brown grey sandy silt 0.28 1 101 Layer Subsoil Light orange grey sandy silt 0.06 1 102 Layer Natural Pale/ light pink grey and yellow substrate orange sands with vivid red mudstone 2 200 Layer Topsoil Mid-dark grey brown sandy silty 0.23 loam 2 201 Layer Subsoil Mid reddish brown and yellow 0.22 sandy silt 2 202 Layer Natural Vivid red clay with light yellow and substrate grey silt 3 300 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown sandy silty loam 0.23 3 301 Layer Subsoil Mid-light reddish brown sandy silt 0.18 3 302 Layer Natural Vivid red clay and light brown substrate yellow clay silt 4 400 Layer Topsoil Mid brown grey sandy silt 0.3 4 401 Layer Subsoil Light orange grey sandy silt 0.36 Post-med 4 402 Layer Natural Pale yellow and light brown yellow substrate silty sands with patches of orange and pale yellow sand 4 403 Cut Pit/ ditch Sub-circular in plan. Steep sides >0.37 0.63 0.37 terminus and rounded base 4 404 Fill 403 Pit/ ditch Mid brown grey silty sand with >0.37 0.63 0.37 terminus fill charcoal flecking 5 500 Layer Topsoil Mid brown grey sandy silt 0.28 5 501 Layer Subsoil Light brown orange sandy silt 0.14 5 502 Layer Colluvium Mid orange brown silty sand >3.0 >1.9 0.26 Post-med 5 503 Layer Natural Light orange and brown orange substrate sand with patches of yellow sand 6 600 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown sandy silt loam 0.27 6 601 Layer Subsoil Dark yellow brown clayey silt loam 0.23 6 602 Layer Colluvium Dark (mottled) brown yellow and >42.0 >1.9 0.34 Post-med grey brown clay silt 6 603 Layer Natural Vivid red clay with red-grey and substrate purple silts

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Table 1: Finds concordance Context Category Description Fabric Count Weight Spot-date Code

401 Post-medieval ceramic Flat roof tile 1 34 Post-medieval building material 500 Iron Riveted strip 1 22 - 502 Post-medieval ceramic Flat roof tile 2 291 Post-medieval building material Medieval pottery Sandy coarseware TF42 1 9 602 Medieval pottery Sandy coarseware TF42 3 6 MC16-C18 Post-medieval pottery Glazed TF50 1 14 earthenware Post-medieval ceramic Nib tile, flat roof tile, 3 102 building material fragment Industrial waste Ironworking slag 2 40

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire Short description An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in March 2018 at Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire. Six trenches were excavated.

Colluvium, formed within a natural coombe, was recorded in the east and south-east of site from which, heavily abraded medieval and post-medieval pottery and ceramic building material was recovered. An undated feature, most probably a pit or ditch terminal, was identified in the north of site sealed by subsoil. Project dates 14-16 march 2018 Project type Evaluation Previous work Archaeological Appraisal (WYG 2017) Geophysical Survey (SUMO 2017) Heritage Statement (WYG 2017) Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire Study area (M2/ha) 2.7ha Site co-ordinates 371442 225976

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator none Project Design (WSI) originator WYG Environmental

Project Manager Cliff Bateman Project Supervisor Daniel Sausins MONUMENT TYPE none SIGNIFICANT FINDS none PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content Physical Museum of Gloucester pottery Paper Museum of Gloucester Trench sheets, context sheets, section drawings, photo registers Digital Museum of Gloucester Digital photos, database BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2018 Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 18168

11 370000 372000

228000

226000

224000

N Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 WORCESTERSHIRE Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] COUNTY OF HEREFORDSHIRE PROJECT TITLE Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire

MONMOUTHSHIRE GLOUCESTERSHIRE FIGURE TITLE

TORFAEN Site location plan

CAERPHILLY 0 1km

DRAWN BY CP PROJECT NO. 6560 FIGURE NO. NEWPORT SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 CHECKED BY RP DATE 23/03/2018 CARDIFF Ordnance Survey 0100031673 APPROVED BY CMB SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 371400 371500 N

403

A A

colluvium site boundary 603 evaluation trench excavated archaeological feature

T6 deposit (excavated/unexcavated) modern treethrow

B B section location

226000 T3 Geophysical Survey Results (SUMO 2017)

colluvium Uncertain (trend) 502 Natural T5 T2 Pipe

Ferrous subsoil 501

Bradfords Lane

0 25m

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Exeter 01392 826185 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE 225900 Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE Trench location plan showing archaeological features and geophysical survey results

DRAWN BY CP PROJECT NO. 6560 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY RP DATE 23/03/2018 APPROVED BY CMB SCALE@A3 1:750 2 P:\6560 Bradfords Lane Newent Glos EVAL\Illustration\Drafts\6560 Bradfords Lane Fig 02.dwg Bradfords EVAL\Illustration\Drafts\6560 Lane Newent Glos P:\6560 Bradfords Section AA

NE SW 44.4m AOD

400

401

404

feature 403

01m1:20

Feature 403, looking south-east (scale 1m)

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE Trench 4: section and photograph

DRAWN BY CP PROJECT NO. 6560 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY RP DATE 23/03/2018 APPROVED BY CMB SCALE@A4 1:20 3 General view of site showing slope

Trench 6, located within Coombe

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land off Bradfords Lane, Newent, Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE Photographs

DRAWN BY CP PROJECT NO. 6560 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY RP DATE 23/03/2018 APPROVED BY CMB SCALE@A4 N/A 4 12